Wire-stretcher.



W. G. RICHARDSON.

WIRE STRETGHER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 11.1908.

Patented Nov. 24, 1908.

witnesses UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM C. RICHARDSON, OF POTLATOH, IDAHO.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. RICHARD- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Potlatch, in the county of Latah and State of Idaho, have invented new and useful Improvements in WVire-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improvement in wire stretchers designed primarily for use in fence building operations and adapted to provide a simple and convenient form of device for stretching strand wires of a fence.

The main object of the present invention is the provision of a wire stretcher including a wire receiving hook adapted for fixed connection with the stretching lever and an auxiliary wire receiving hook adapted for adjustable connection with the lever, whereby a single implement is provided for the convenient stretching of wires of any length.

The invention will be described in the following specification, reference being had particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective of a wire stretcher constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central section of the operative end of the stretcher, the portions thereof being shown in elevation. Fig. 3 is a plan of the same.

Referring particularly to the drawings, my improved wire stretcher comprises a main lever 1 which is designed to be of a length suitable for operation, the lower or operative end of the lever being of materially greater dimensions than the upper or handle end, as clearly shown in the drawings. The extreme lower end of the lever is rounded at 2 to afford a bearing surface for the lever in operation, said rounded surface being preferably provided with a series of spur teeth 8, whereby a bite grip may be secured upon the surface of the post.

Secured upon the upper surface of the lever adjacent its lower or operative end is a plate 4, preferably coextensive in width with the width of the lever and secured to the latter through the medium of screws 5. The plate extends to the operative end of the lever and at such end is formed with a hook extension 6 bifurcated or branched to pro vide divergent hooks 7, which curve upwardly and rearwardly relative to the surface of the plate 4. The hooks 7 are arranged in such relation to each other and their proximate edges are so formed as to Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 11, 1908.

Patented Nov. 24, 1908.

Serial No. 426,589.

afford a bite for the wire disposed between said hooks so that the same is held against relatively longitudinal movement during the stretching operation. The plate 4: adjacent the end opposing the hooks 7 is formed with a longitudinally disposed slot 8 adapted when said hook is in position to register with a slot 9 extending through the main lever.

Mounted for movement in the slots 8 and 9 is a bolt 10, the head of which is arranged above the plate 4 and is formed to provide spaced ears 11. The opposing end of the bolt is threaded for the reception of a washer l2 and securing nut 13, whereby the bolt may be secured in desired position longitudinally of the slot. To further secure the bolt in desired adjustment in the slot I corrugate or roughen the surface of the plate l on each side of the slot 8, as at 14:, and provide the bolt 10 with a washer 15 designed to overlie the corrugations 14 and to cooperate therewith.

Mounted between the ears 11 of the bolt 10 is a rod 16, approximately corresponding in length to the length of the plate 4 from the forward end of the slot 8 to the hook 7 The end of the rod 16 remote from its pivotal connection to the bolt 10 is formed with a hook member 17 formed to provide divergent hooks 18, the divergence of which and the formation of their approximate edges providing accommodation for wires of different thicknesses and at the same time snugly engaging the wires to insure a gripping of the wire in the stretching operation.

The use of the stretcher is obvious, it being understood that in short length wires the terminal is engaged between the hooks 7 and the main lever turned on the post to stretch the wire. In stretching wire of ordinary or usual lengths the bolt 16 is adjusted longitudinally of the slot to the desired point on the wire engaged between the hooks 18, the stretching operation being the same in both instances.

The wire stretcher in the form illustrated is conveniently adapted for expeditious wire stretching in fence building or similar operations, as the staples holding the wires may be conveniently removed by the use of hooks 7 in an obvious manner, thereby adapting the implement for additional uses over that of wire stretching.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is

1. A Wire stretcher including a lever, a plate secured thereto and terminally'formed to provide a hook, said plate being formed with a longitudinal slot, said lever being formed with a slot to register with the slot in the plate, a bolt passed through the slots, means for securing the bolt in fixed position With relation to the lever, and a Wire en gaging hook pivotally connected With the bolt.

2. A Wire stretcher including a lever, a plate secured thereto and terminally formed to provide a hook, said plate being formed With a longitudinal slot, said lever being formed with a slot to register With the slot in the plate, a bolt passed through'the slots, means for securing the bolt in fixed position with relation to the lever, a Wire engaging hook pivotally connected With the bolt,

the surface of the plate adjacent the slot 20 VILLIAM C. RICHARDSON.

lVitnesses FRANK THAGGERTY, ADELBERT L. DAVIS. 

